SITE-SPECIFIC - Presentation Research (willi dorner)

Willi Dorner

Willi Dorner is an Austrian choreographer, he was born in 1959 in Baden, Austria. He studied at the Austrian society for Dance therapy and is also a certified Alexander technique teacher. In addition to this he has also done further training in New York at the Erick Hawkins Studio and the school for body-mind centre. He began choreographing his own productions in 1990 as well as being involved in film making. His stage performances and site specific works are presented and shown around the world including Europe, Africa, china and North and South America. As well as internationally touring dance performances, he is keep on creating new interesting perspectives on performance. One example of this is Bodies in urban spaces, this is an "intriguing trail" with 20 dancers, these dancers lead the audience into different public spaces in different cities around the world, including London.

Bodies in Urban Spaces

DANCE - Technique phrases (24th March)

Cunningham phrase

Limon phrase

Leap Practice

Target Setting

THE TEMPEST - Brighton Open Air Theatre and Site Specific Research

Brighton Open Air Theatre

B.O.A.T is an amphitheatre with an audience capacity of 425 people, it is formed of eight artificially turfed ledges which lead down to a thrust stage. There is an acoustic wall which prevents noise pollution flooding the performance space. The location of the theatre is on Dyke Road Park, Hove, and opened May 2015. The theatre operates from May to September, it provides a performance space for schools, local artists as well as national touring productions and companies. They mainly host theatre however there is often music and comedy events as well, the space has no artistic director or an artistic policy.

What is site-specific?

• Performance that overly uses the properties and qualities of a given site.
• Could include a landscape, city, building, room ect.
• Explores the boundaries of a theatrical experience.
• Does not take place in a traditional theatre venue/setting.
• Exaggerates the relationship between person and the physical environment.
• The goal is to utilise the space and venue so that it participates the overall experience.
• The audience are more immersed in the production, the actors are no longer separated form them - breaking down the forth wall.
• Considerations include weather, audience capacity and available space. 

What is Site Specific? (Discussion)

DANCE - Technique Classes (10th March)

Cunningham main phrase

Cunningham main phrase (Extended)

Cunningham target setting

Limon main phrase

Limon target setting

DANCE - Technique phrases (10th February)

I am wearing a purple tie-dye t-shirt.

Cunningham Triplet exercise

Cunningham Triplet exercise 2

Cunningham foot exercise

Cunningham Back and plie exercise

Limon travelling exercise

Limon swing exercise

Cunningham target setting

Limon target setting

DANCE -Technique phrases (3rd February)

I am wearing a dark green t-shirt.

Limon phrase targets

Cunningham phrases targets

Cunningham Back and Plie warm up

Limon swing phrase

DANCE - Introduction to techniques

Merce Cunningham (Cunningham Technique)

• Lived 1919 - 2009
• Cunningham's work is characterised by the belief that dance should not have to carry a message or tell a story - this is known as abstract.
• He was a soloist in Martha Graham's dance company.
• He believes that music and dance should be two separate things put together - music, dance and design all have an equal status and created separately.
• He likes the use of the spine (tilting, curving, tipping, arching and twisting).
• Ballet elements include the control and clarity of shape.
• There is a difficult co-ordination of arms, legs and head in relation to the placing of the torso.
• There is no front - all directions have the same significance and interest.

Jose Limon (Limon Technique)

• He studied with Doris Humphrey.
• Developed a theory through his study of dance which he referred to as fall and rebound, this became the basis of his technique.
• Gravity - Weighted.
• Stylistic features include, being completely active, swings, rebounds, suspension, fall and recovery, breath and flow as well as rhythmic awareness.